Effects and Feasibility of a Mindfulness-Based Guqin Music Intervention During Pregnancy on Postpartum Anxiety and Depression: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to test the effects and feasibility of a mindfulness-based Guqin music intervention (MBGI), administered during pregnancy, on postpartum anxiety and depression.

Eighty-seven pregnant women, each identified with anxiety and depression, were randomly allocated to one of three groups: 4-week MBGI, Guqin music intervention, or a control group. The participants completed questionnaires on mindfulness, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality at baseline, postintervention, and 6 weeks after delivery. We assessed the feasibility of the intervention by evaluating participant adherence, satisfaction, and any potential difficulties post-intervention.

The results of the linear mixed model showed that there was a significant treatment-by-time interaction effect in mindfulness (F = 15.658, p < 0.001), anxiety (F = 14.883, p < 0.001), and depression (F = 27.795, p < 0.001) but no significant effects on sleep quality (F = 1.239, p = 0.297). Moreover, decreases in anxiety (b = -0.426, p < 0.001) and depression (b = -0.134, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with the improvement in mindfulness.

MBGI, applied during pregnancy, contributes to a decrease in postpartum anxiety and depression, potentially by enhancing mindful attention and awareness. Feasibility outcomes illustrate that MBGI as an intervention for postpartum negative emotions is feasible and well accepted. This study thus proposes a brief, clinically applicable, mindfulness-based music intervention.

The pilot trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000035242; 4/8/2020).